Alice Saville

Sure, New York might have a few iconic festive traditions. Our Nordic neighbours might be blessed with snowy weather and actual real life reindeers. But if you ask us, no capital city embraces Christmas quite as whole-heartedly as London does. There’s no shortage of festive fun to be had in this city once December arrives, so much so that it can be hard to know wh hat to spend the limited time on between friendmas dinners, the office Christmas party and frantic present shopping.  So that’s why we’ve put together this hitlist of the most iconic festive traditions London has to offer. From taking in the twinkling lights on Regents Street to sipping mulled wine at the city’s most festive pub (it’s literally covered in Christmas trees), there are so many quintessential London activities to get you in the festive spirit. If you ask us, you can’t really claim to have ‘done’ Christmas in the capital until you’ve ticked off at least half of them.  Read our full guide to Christmas in London right here.

London does Christmas trees better than almost anywhere, and it doesn’t stop at the classic fir. Come November, the city’s squares, stations and hotel lobbies start competing for the most jaw-dropping tree in town, and the results run from the traditional to the downright bonkers. They’re the perfect excuse to wrap up warm and wander, ideally with a mulled wine in hand, between Christmas markets and light switch-ons. This year the big one has an extra reason to celebrate. Trafalgar Square’s Norwegian spruce, sent over by Oslo as a thank you for Britain’s support during the Second World War, has been gifted every year since 1947, which makes 2026 its 80th. Covent Garden always goes big on sparkle, while the city’s grandest hotels hand their lobbies over to fashion designers and artists, with Claridge’s having had everyone from Karl Lagerfeld to Louis Vuitton dress theirs over the years. So grab your camera and your warmest coat. These are the Christmas trees worth seeking out in London this year. RECOMMENDED: Where to buy a Christmas tree in London.

Sometimes, it’s worth waiting until the last minute to pick up your Christmas gifts. In the winter months running up to Crimbo, the capital becomes home to tons of wintry fairs. Markets pop-up all over the city, stacked with stalls selling unique pressies from small businesses and independent designers that you’d never find in the big shops online or off. They’re perfect for browsing as the big day looms and a good excuse to treat yourself to Christmas snacks and mulled wine as you tick gifts off your list. You’ll find everything you need to make someone’s Christmas Day memorable at London’s seasonal markets, from ceramics and plants to pressies from around the world. Be sure to bookmark this page, because we’ll be adding more markets around the city as they’re announced.  London’s best Christmas markets at a glance: 🧀 Best for foodies Southbank Centre Winter Market ⛸️ Best for entertainment Hyde Park Winter Wonderland Market 🎄 Best for festive atmosphere Christmas at Leadenhall Market 👩‍🎨 Best for creative gifts DIY Christmas Art Market ♻️ Best for sustainable gifts Urban Makers Christmas Market RECOMMENDED: Our complete guide to Christmas in London.

Classical music, coffee houses and the eversweet sachertortes. Vienna is world-famous for all-things grandeur, but if you prefer to keep things a little more casual (and even budget-friendly), its hotel scene ranges from vintage glamour to cool and comfortable. And warm, personal hospitality is a big deal here, too, with lots of Vienna hotels offering complimentary teatime treats and guest-only happy hours. The lodgings on this list are also near many of Vienna’s top attractions, things to do and restaurants, which makes having a great time almost effortless. We regularly update these listings to reflect the most on-trend and unique stays out there. So without further ado, here’s our pick of the best, most interesting places to stay in Vienna. The best hotels in Vienna, at a glance:  💸 Best on a budget: Grätzlhotel Karmelitermarkt 🖼️ Best interior design: Hotel Sacher Wien 🌇 Best views: 25hours Hotel beim MuseumsQuartier 💎 Biggest splurge: Rosewood Vienna   🍕 Best for foodies: The Guesthouse Vienna  Updated October 2026: We reviewed the all-new Miiro Spittelberg, which offers Italian-inspired dining and 132 clean-cut rooms with splashes of colour – read on to see where it ranks.  ➡️ Want more? Check out our list of the best Airbnbs in Vienna How we curate our hotel lists Our team of writers and travel experts review hotels all over the world – new openings, old classics and everything in between – to bring you fresh, honest recommendations, all year round. We have re

There's something so deeply joyful about shopping at a market. When you're buying from people who're passionate about their wares, the familiar business of picking up supplies becomes a treat, not a chore. Why chain yourself to a supermarket trolley when you could be strolling past stalls piled high with lovingly-sourced cheeses, gleaming fruit and homemade cakes? Why hunt for an unimaginative chain store gift for your bestie when you could give them painstakingly crafted trinket they won't see anywhere else? As a lifelong Londoner, I've never been able to resist the lure of this city's markets. If I'm in London Bridge, I'll stop into Borough Market for a quick chai and pastry. If I want a dose of Paddington Bear nostalgia I'll head to storied Portobello Road. If I want to feel bad about my fashion choices, I'll wander down Broadway Market alongside this city's fittest and trendiest denizens. And if I want to take my life into my own hands, I'll make for Camden Market on a Saturday afternoon in search of whatever viral snack the teens are obsessing over this week. London's best markets are full of local flavour, and each will have its own specialities. Pick up muddy, delicious veg at a farmers’ market, try out new looks at a fashion market, consume the latest trends in street food or rifle through crates of antique gems. Whichever you opt for, you'll be supporting the little guy by buying from small businesses that really care about what they're selling.  London’s best market

September 2026: Across the city, creative chefs are showing off their prowess with plants, and dreaming up new vegetable-based delights or creating pitch-perfect imitations of meaty comfort food classics. Whether you’re after a lavish night of culinary theatre, a massive Middle Eastern spread, Ital food from Jamaica or a Michelin-star winning tasting menu, you’ll find it in our list of London’s best vegan restaurants. Read on to plan your next meat-free feast. London’s best vegan restaurants at a glance: 🔥 Best for spicy Sichuan dishes: Facing Heaven, Hackney 🏆 Best for Michelin star dining: Plates, Shoreditch 🌴 Best for Caribbean classics: Jam Delish, Angel 💐 Best for date night: Holy Carrot, Notting Hill 🥪 Best for a swift sarnie: Coven of Wiches, Brixton RECOMMENDED: London’s best restaurants for vegetarian food. Leonie Cooper is Time Out London’s Food and Drink Editor. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines.

Every year, Christmas sees London transform from a colourless metropolis into a sparkling winter wonderland. Magnificent festive light displays start to fill the city in November, marking the beginning of the most wonderful time of the year. No matter how Scrooge-like you are, you can’t deny that they make the capital look utterly magical. The illuminations can be found all over London. There are the timeless classics like Regent Street’s trumpet-playing angels, and themed displays, like those found on Carnaby Street. There are fantastic trails like Christmas at Kew Gardens, and cosy local displays like the Chelsea Winter Village. Some you’ve got to book in advance to see, others you can just turn up and admire. So, ahead of the 2026 festive season, here are the best London illuminations to check out to get you in the Christmas spirit. When do the Christmas lights go on in London? Most of the city’s Christmas lights get switched on in early November and stay illuminated until the start of January. London’s best Christmas lights at a glance: ✨ Best for the biggest display in town: Oxford Street 🔔 Best for knockout festive extravagance: Covent Garden 🎄 Best for a Christmassy evening out: Kew Gardens Light Trail 🍺 Best for a crafty pint afterwards: The Churchill Arms  RECOMMENDED: ❄️ Find out about the most Christmassy events in the city. 🎄 Check out London's very best Christmas markets. 🌟 See our full festive guide to Christmas in London.

Once the clocks have gone back, the weather has gone all blustery and autumnal, and Halloween has been and gone, it’s time to remember, remember the fifth of November.  Of all of the UK’s winter traditions, there’s nothing like gathering in a park in the nippy nights of early November to watch a pile of flaming wood and fireworks piercing the sky. Bonfire Night – aka Guy Fawkes Night –might sound strange to those unfamiliar with it, but it’s a great British tradition and one of the highlights of the second half of the year. London puts on a plethora of Bonfire Night and fireworks displays with sparkly skies, yummy street food and so much more. We’ll be updating this page as more details of this year’s events are released.  When is Bonfire Night in London? You know the old adage! Bonfire Night is officially on November 5 every year, and this year, that falls on a Thursday. You’ll find some displays on the night itself, but most will be taking place on either the weekend before or after so you can really make the most of the fun. These days, fireworks displays are about more than bonfires and colourful skies – it’s now the norm for events to boast funfairs, food stalls and more. Top tips for Bonfire Night in London  Book in advance: Some events you can just rock up to and pay on the gate; others sell out early and don’t keep tickets back for the spontaneous among us. The key to not being disappointed is being organised! Wrap up: The unpredictable great British weather rarely

Okay, so you've bought your mince pies, written your shopping list, put up the lights and spent an obscene amount at some kind of tinsel-decked festive pop-up. But is it really Christmas until you've belted out ‘O Come All Ye Faithful’ into the chill winter air? There's nothing more festival than a carol concert at Christmas, something that'll reconnect you with centuries of tradition and remind you of childhood festivities gone by. As the city buzzes with light displays, festivals and big events, carol services are a chance to take a moment and remember what all this hubbub is all about. London plays host to a huge variety of Christmas concerts (many of them free) in the run-up to the day. And there’s enough to suit all styles and moods, from the iconic splendour of St Paul’s annual concerts to glam charity bashes and events that highlight cultural traditions.  Many concerts for 2026 haven't been announced yet, but we'll keep updating this list as they come in.  RECOMMENDED: Our comprehensive guide to Christmas in London

Festive season is fast approaching. The tinsel may not be up and the mulled wine may not be out just yet, but the wheels are most certainly in motion. It’s time to get planning.  As winter sets in, London’s pubs, restaurants and bars will all be decking the halls with fairy lights, baubles and mistletoe. But they won’t be the only places you can go for a warm festive atmos. Come November, Christmassy pop-up venues will spring up all over London. We’re talking riverside heated igloos, Alpine-themed lodges and kitschy nostalgia-themed bars that will keep you warm and, most importantly, full of food and festive drinks. Here are the best hideaways, markets and quirky festive experiences waiting to lure you in from the cold in 2026. London's best winter pop-ups at a glance: 🎅 Best for partying with Santa: Humbug, Greenwich🥌 Best for silly sports: Club Curling, various locations🐷 Best for old-school feasting: The Great Christmas Feast, West Kensington🥶 Best for daredevils: Up at the O2's snow globe climbs, Greenwich PeninsulaRECOMMENDED: Here are the best things do in London this Christmas

As much as we love clinging to the last traces of summer, October signals a change of pace. Beer gardens empty out, big coats get fished out of wardrobes, and we all start to remember the joys of the great indoors. London’s cultural institutions come alive, with line-ups designed to lure us within their walls: there's a host of big theatre productions, major film releases and cultural highlights throughout the month. The BFI London Film Festival returns, as does the London Literature Festival and the Bloomsbury Festival. On the art scene, there’s a wealth of new exhibitions not to be missed, plus Frieze’s annual London art fair, uniting some of the world’s best art galleries in one place. It’s also Black History Month in the UK, and you can expect many of London’s major institutions to throw events to mark the occasion. It’s also the time of year for a hell of a party, with Halloween bringing with it all kinds of spooky celebrations – from family-friendly frights, movie screenings, pumpkin picking and scary nightlife so good it could raise the dead taking over the capital this month. The month also calls for big steins and inventive mixes. Oktoberfest celebrations will take over the capital at the start of the month, while London Cocktail Week is also on the cards.  And there’s plenty more too! Check out our list of the best cultural happenings and things to do throughout October 2026.  RECOMMENDED:📆 The definitive London events calendar

We may be in the midst of ongoing heatwaves here in London, but make the most of it while you can – December will be here before you know it. One day you’re necking tinned cocktails on a picnic blanket in a packed summer park, the next you're looking up mulled wine recipes and wrapped in a duvet watching The Nightmare Before Christmas. But that’s no bad thing. December brings with it an abundance of wonderful goings on, from quaint Christmas markets, camp pantomimes, wholesome carol services, cool seasonal pop-ups and stellar Christmas light displays. Time Out’s editorial team started thinking about Christmas long before the first autumn leaves flutter to the ground, and we're ready to show you some more leftfield, imaginative ways to celebrate the season. Check back for everything you need to plan the perfect Christmas 2026, London style. RECOMMENDED: 🎅 Check out our full guide to Christmas in London 🎄 Discover the best hotels in London for unforgettable Christmas stays

Brompton fans, assemble: this one day get-together is perfect for showing off your skill at zipping round the track. Over 750 competitors will start the race by running to their bike, unfolding it with effortless ease (hopefully) then zipping round Lee Valley's velodrome. There's also a relay race if you want to compete as a group, with fancy dress welcome for anyone looking to increase their fun factor but decrease their aerodynamic properties.  There'll also be loads of other Brompton-centric fun, including demos and test rides, merch, bike folding competitions, workshops, and entertainment throughout the day. It's free to watch and light of heart, offering a quirky antidote to other, more serious cycle-centric get-togethers. 

This is a summer when all the romance has been scorched off city life, as successive heat waves make tower blocks suffocate and pavements burn. Even in oh-so-pretty Paris, the city’s whimsical iron railings are suddenly looking more like prison bars. High-density living is dangerous, as our forebears well knew. Dulwich Picture Gallery’s new exhibition follows some of the biggest names in 20th century American photography as they document their country’s major cities, and reckon with its fearsome urge to build upwards and outwards. It’s full of iconic shots that don’t quite build into one towering narrative. Today, New York’s skyline is so familiar that it adorns film credits, baseball caps, and the walls of thousands of crappy Airbnbs the world over. But for the photographers who watched it being built, its heights were unexpected – unnatural, even. Berenice Abbott’s 1933 image ‘Exchange Place, New York’ is four times taller than it is wide – its vertiginous blocks seem to press together, about to crush the ant-like figures scurrying at street level. For her contemporary, Edward Streichen, this new New York is the stuff of sci-fi fantasies: in ‘The Maypole (The Empire State Building)’, he uses double exposure to turn this well-known landmark into an alien cross-hatching of lines, dizzying and unsettling. Photography – a new artistic discipline – was rising up alongside the city, and the possibilities felt endless. “Edward Streichen’s New York is the stuff of sci-fi fantasies”

This review is from 2022. The P Word returns to the Bush Theatre in 2026 with the cast unchanged. Waleed Akhtar’s gorgeous, devastating new play is split between two Britains. One’s the twenty-first century, ‘love is love’ home of corporate Pride sponsorship and endless app-enabled sexual possibilities. And the other one’s tougher, older – medieval, almost – a place where gay asylum seekers are intrusively questioned about their sexual behaviour, and banished to their deaths. The resulting drama might sound grim, and sometimes it is, but ‘The P Word’ is also heart-meltingly lovely, full of faith in the transformative power of love and friendship.Akhtar himself plays Bilal, a Grindr-addicted gay man who deals with the lingering stigma of growing up a ‘fat Pakistani poof’ by throwing himself into self-punishing gym sessions. His story is spliced with that of gay Pakistani asylum seeker Zafar (Esh Alladi), who’s living an impoverished existence in Hounslow, advised by his lawyer to back up his case by taking photos of himself participating in a LGBTQ+ scene he couldn't feel more adrift from. Director Anthony Simpson-Pike creates subtle physical echoes between the two – Bilal does push-ups as Zafar offers desperate prayers – that emphasise their different shades of loneliness, both cut off from their families by their sexual identity. Max John’s ambitious set design makes them begin on separate halves of a circular stage that starts to revolve as their stories finally collide.‘

The most perfumed page of the LGBTQ+ history books is reserved for Henry Paget, fifth Marquis of Anglesey. A turn-of-the-century aristocrat whose dangerous addiction to jewels, outlandish get-ups and lavish theatricals nearly sunk the economy of a small Welsh island, he's already been the subject of a wonderfully tongue-in-cheek stage musical (Seiriol Davies' award-winning How to Win Against History). Now his story is getting a more straightforward outing in this entertaining, if sometimes plodding period flick. Its star Callum Scott-Howells rose to fame playing timid, tragic Colin in Channel 4 AIDS drama It's a Sin. He gets to have more fun as Paget, even if his tragic downfall is on the cards right from the film's opening minutes: he coughs, and a few specks of blood fall onto the cameo of his beloved mother that always hangs around his neck. Scott-Howells' likeable performance captures the varying moods of this mad, maddening aristocrat. Initially, he's invested with the dignity of Anne Boleyn being rowed to the scaffold as he sails into Anglesey harbour, reluctantly leaving gay Paris for soggy Wales, where he must adopt his position among the tedious gentry. Rupert Everett makes a welcome appearance as his butler-cum-mentor Gelert, named after a loyal dog from Welsh mythology, and full of faintly-exasperated kindness towards this young pup. Gradually, his charge starts to have a little fun. Paget is a turn-of-the-century aristocrat with a dangerous addiction to jewels Dir

Three moons are shining bright in the sky over the castle. Fearsome guards in eerie gold masks are standing by. And in the secrecy of the grand bedchamber, breathy lady of the manor Cherry (Maika Monroe) is being seduced by her phlegmatic maid Hero (Emma Corrin). The world of director Julia Jackman's queer fable (based on Isabel Greenberg's feminist graphic novel on the same name) is extravagant and strange, blending misty-lensed period drama cliché with surreal Derek Jarman-esque aesthetics and eccentric cameos, including Charli xcx as a witch strumming a vaginal guitar. Still, there's something oddly restrained about her storytelling, which sucks the passion out of this fantastical tale. Greenberg's original illustrations depicted the weird old world she's dreamt up with a scrappiness and affectionate wit that's often missing here. Instead, Jackman focuses on heightening the moody grimness and eccentric details of this patriarchal dystopia. We open with tyrannical deity Birdman (Richard E Grant) stomping around, insisting that women know their place – which is looking pretty, having babies, and certainly not developing any ideas of their own. This doesn't bode well for Cherry. Her new husband Jerome (Amir El-Masry) refuses to sleep with her, even though she'll be put to death by the powers that be if she fails to get pregnant. Then, this charming chap decides to make a bet with his Mills and Boon cover-worthy guy friend Manfred (The Idea of You’s Nicholas Galitzine). If th

What is it?  Ever wanted to escape to Far, Far Away, where donkeys talk, dragons soar, and Puss in Boots has surprisingly impressive sword skills? Here's your chance. This 70-minute interactive tour through the world of Shrek is a Southbank attraction that's squarely aimed at family audiences. It's made by the team behind London Dungeons so expect a similar walk-and-gawk approach (but with a lot less creepy, gory stuff of course). Live actors will embody some of your faves from the films, while impressive cinematic effects will create 3D visuals that'll make you feel like you're meeting dragons for real. Why go? Perhaps you're a parent giving in to pester power. Or perhaps you're a Shrek fan full of nostalgia for this lovable movie. Either way, you'll find all the green ogre-based silliness yor heart could desire at this offbeat attraction. Don’t miss:  The Magic Bus is a red double decker that'll take you on a 4D simulated journey through Far Far Away, with Donkey in the driving seat. In a fun London touch, you'll even drive through a deserted tube station past posters for Madame Tussauds (another Merlin attraction, of course). When to visit:  You can visit Sunday-Wednesday 10am-3pm; Thursday 11am-3pm; Friday 10am-3pm; Saturday 10am-4pm.  Ticket info:  Standard adult tickets are £32, with children £26. Plus £2 extra for Shrek ears! Time Out tip: Cringey though it might feel, interact with the actors to get the most out of your experience.

This review is from Soho Theatre in 2022; it transfers to Kiln Theatre with a partially changed cast that includes Liz Carr and Leah Harvey. The rainbow flag offers an idealised portrait of the LGBTQ-plus community: people of different stripes co-existing in harmony, each taking up an equal amount of space. But the reality is messier, scribbled over with conflicts and inequalities. Iman Qureshi's warm, complex play 'The Ministry of Lesbian Affairs' explores just how difficult it is to create a queer space, while showing how beautiful it can be when the stars align. Things start out in pretty formulaic style. Each week, a disparate gaggle of lesbians meet up in a leaky-roofed hall to sing in a choir, with the lofty goal of performing on the main stage at Pride. There's wildly confident womaniser Ellie (Fanta Barrie), hyper-woke academic Ana (Claudia Jolly), and her reluctantly-tagging-along butch engineer girlfriend Lori (Kibong Tanji) who turns out to have an amazing singing voice, all arranged into an approximation of harmony by self-styled OWL (older wiser lesbian) Connie (Shuna Snow). It could all be the beginnings of a dykier, hopefully less doomed remake of 'Glee'. But Qureshi's play is way smarter than that. She toys enjoyably with lesbian cliches (sensible footwear, veganism, buzzcuts) only to reach beyond them to tell less familiar stories. Like that of Dina (an engagingly puppyish Lara Sawalha), a Muslim woman who throws herself into choir as an escape from her forb

What is it?  The centre of political life in the UK, housed in the labyrinthine Palace of Westminster on the banks of the Thames. This location has been the permanent seat of Parliament since 1532, when Henry VIII presided over intricate Tudor political wranglings. Still, most of the current Palace is quite a bit newer than you might expect: the Parliament buildings were designed in 1860 by Charles Barry (ably assisted by Augustus Pugin) to replace the original building, which had been destroyed by fire in 1834. It's a wonderful mish-mash of styles, dominated by Gothic buttresses, towers and arches – plus the world-famous Elizabeth Tower housing Big Ben. It's also dauntingly vast, with 1,000 rooms, 11 courtyards, eight bars and six restaurants, plus a small cafeteria for visitors. Of the original palace, only the Jewel Tower and, within the Parliament buildings, Westminster Hall, remain.  Why go? If you've ever found yourself glued to 'Prime Minister's Question Time' or listened out for the bongs of Big Ben, you'll be exhilarated to find yourself in the heart of the action: the place where massive decisions about the UK's future are made.  Visitors to House of Parliament have three main options; Palace of Westminster: Discover the history of this elaborate building and get insights in the modern-day workings of Parliament on this tour, available as a 90-minute guided visit or as a self-led audio guide.Speaker's House: This 75-minute tour takes you inside the historic Speaker'

What is it?  Remember when the whole world tuned into Will and Kate's big royal wedding in 2011? Well, that spectacular setting was Westminster Abbey, the storied London church where generations of monarchs have tied the knot through the centuries. It was built between 1220 and 1272 by King Henry III, its gorgeous gothic confines growing more and more elaborate as time wore on.  Why go? Well, obviously it's stunning as a piece of architecture, with its elaborate perpendicular gothic facade decked with innumberable turrets that pierce the sky like something out of Lord of the Rings. Its interior is equally striking, especially the elaborately vaulted stone roof that'll have you gazing up in wonder. Look down and things get even more interesting. Like the Pantheon Crypt in Paris, where you can see the tombs and memorials to great figures from history, Westminster Abbey is full of a historic array of graves, tablets, busts and stone dedications. Seventeen kings and queens are buried here, along with dukes, countesses and history’s ‘celebs’ – including George Frideric Handel and Charles Darwin, Charles Dickens, Hardy, Behn, Olivier, etc. There’s an entire stained glass window dedicated to Isambard Kingdom Brunel, and the famous Poet's Corner memorialising famous authors in the South Transept, including DH Lawrence, Jane Austen, Dylan Thomas, Lewis Carroll, Shakespeare and many more.Shake off any morbid thoughts after all that grave-visiting by exploring the Abbey's beautiful grou

If you wish to indulge in the luxuries of old Vienna, there’s nowhere finer to do so than in Hotel Sacher, a storied establishment that sits amongst the grand museums and galleries at the city’s heart. Of course, this is the birthplace of Austria’s beloved sachertorte, an oh-so-sweet chocolate cake best enjoyed masked with clouds of whipped cream. But your eyes will feast too, on Belle Époque-inspired interiors that shine like glacé fruit – a richly brocaded cherry red foyer, a lime peel green restaurant – or gleam with the snowy intricacy of an old-fashioned wedding cake.The more restrained bedrooms and suites are a breath of fresh air after the richness and grandeur downstairs, with their pale neutral colour schemes and sizeable windows. Still, even the smaller rooms are decked out with crystal chandeliers and oil paintings (its visionary former owner Anna Sacher was a keen artist), while the suites boast impressive views over the Opera House and its glamorous clientele, as well as elaborate marble-decked bathrooms and chaise longues to swoon over. In the hotel’s boutique spa, you can have your whole body wrapped in a chocolate mask Things here could easily feel stiff or intimidating, with photos of famous former clientele from Sharon Stone to JFK surrounding the reception desk and immaculately uniformed staff perpetually standing to attention. Thankfully, though, this family-owned hotel has a genuinely warm and welcoming approach, full of thoughtful touches (from kettles

‘Mrs Doubtfire’ is the latest in a seemingly endless post-pandemic string of musical takes on retro movies. ‘Back to the Future’, ‘Dirty Dancing’, ‘Groundhog Day’... if you were born in the ’80s, the West End has decided that by now you're obviously loaded and ready to be milked of your money like a pantomime cow. Only this genuinely funny comedy musical doesn't feel like a cash grab, thanks to its twenty-first-century jokes, perfectly paced book, and silly voices galore. Writer John O’Farrell has worked on ‘Have I Got News For You’ and ‘Spitting Image’, and some of that topical flair can be seen here. Freshly divorced dad Daniel is a comic actor whose voiceover recording seshes ingeniously break out of the American world of the story: he begins with a witty theatre pre-show announcement, then breaks into non-naff impressions of Prince Harry and Boris Johnson. Refreshingly, this production has resisted the temptation to cast a famous funny person in the role, and musical theatre actor Gabriel Vick pulls off both the gags and the songs with impressive aplomb.This story’s serious bits aren't quite as well-handled. O’Farrell struggles a little to make Daniel’s ex-wife Miranda (Laura Tebbutt) more than a boring disciplinarian foil to Daniel's relentless zaniness (here, she gets an improbable fashion career and a 2D hunky love interest). Karey and Wayne Kirkpatricks’ lyrics don't zing with the kind of psychological insights or witty couplets musical theatre fans dream of. But who

This review is from 2018; Hansel and Gretel returns for 2024. Engelbert Humperdinck’s 1893 opera for kids is as warm as a witch’s kitchen, and as dark as the forest outside. It swaps the Grimm Brothers’ fairytale’s wicked child-abandoning parents for a desperately poor couple who send their kids into the forest in a much-regretted flash of anger. And Antony McDonald’s stylish new production mixes in more than enough wit to leaven the bleakness of black forest poverty. The witch’s gingerbread house is a masterstroke: a lopsided cottage impaled with a giant knife that might just have been a warning to savvier kids than these two. But Humperdinck’s parent-provoking children are a refreshingly naughty antidote to all the saintly moppets that fill Victorian fiction. They gobble strawberries and leap up to tramp folk dances across the kitchen table. These stamping, finger-clicking scenes are probably the most German thing you’ll ever see outside a beer hall, and they make for moments of gutsy energy in a score that’s otherwise all about lush, rich romanticism. It might be nominally aimed at kids, but ‘Hansel and Gretel’ is musically complex, and its central duo are played by adult performers Hanna Hipp and Jennifer Davis. They mix knockabout tomfoolery with beautifully blending soprano voices that soar through the towering darkness of the forest – a place that hides a magical array of leaping woodland animals and fairy story characters who play in the shadows. The only disappointme

Winning the title of UK City of Culture can be absolutely transformational for anywhere that manages it. It’s an honour that comes with £10 million of government funding, for the provision of a year’s worth of cultural events and activities celebrating the winner’s unique history and atmosphere. With any luck, it also leaves a bit of a lasting legacy, attracting new interest and investment to an unsung city (or large town). So far, the scheme has celebrated Hull, Derry, Coventry and Bradford, anointing a different city every four years. Now, the final four contenders of 2029 UK City of Culture have been announced. Blackpool, Milton Keynes, Sheffield and Wrexham will all get at least £125,000 from the government to refine their bid, and develop detailed plans for their year in the spotlight. They beat the likes of Inverness, Middlesbrough and Portsmouth, which were all part of the longlist revealed back in March. The winner will be announced in early 2027, giving it just enough time to make its schemes come true. The 4 places bidding to become UK City of Culture in 2029 Blackpool Photograph: Pete Stuart/ ShutterstockWinter Gardens Blackpool, 2024   Unlike most contenders for the title, Blackpool is already a major tourist destination, with big attractions like the Pleasure Beach, the famous Illuminations and the Blackpool Tower luring in tens of thousands of domestic tourists every year. It’s known as a hub for dance, entertainment, and comedy, attracting glitzy spectacles i

You can tell a lot about a south Londoner by their favourite pizza slingers. They’ll obsess over each niche collab at Yard Sale, make a pilgrimage to Slice Circle at the Old Nun’s Head, have every date night at D4100 or refuse to turn their back on Franco Manca (however gigantic the Brixton-born chain gets). Fans of Theo’s love its first two restaurants (in Elephant & Castle and Camberwell) for their friendly atmosphere and their authentically-blackened, puffy-crusted pizzas laden with abundant fresh toppings. Now, there's a new joint opening up in Peckham, with an enticing offer for the first visitors to step through the door. The third branch of Theo’s is currently preparing for opening at 285 Rye Lane, right in the middle of a dining hotspot that also includes popular spots like Taiwanese bun-masters Mr Bao, and highly-rated authentically Napoli spot 081 Pizzeria. So the competition is stiff. Still, Theo’s devoted fanbase is likely to do its best to make this pizza haven a permanent fixture on the Rye. Photograph: Theo’sTheo’s pizza When Theo’s announced its new Peckham branch on instagram yesterday, it added an incentive for pizza fans to beat a path to Rye Lane. It won’t officially launch until Friday November 6, at 6pm. But before then, it’s hosting a series of soft launch nights, where diners pay half price for their meal while they test out their ovens, systems and timings. Want to be in with a shot? Drop your favourite pizza toppings in the comments of the post to

Halloween is fast approaching, but some of us don’t need leering pumpkins, dangling skeletons or teenagers coated in blood to feel pure existential terror. We just have to spend a minute or two thinking about our financial situation, present and future. Still, petrifying though London’s impact on our collective bank balances might well be, this city has also been uncannily generous in serving up free things to do this weekend.  Banish the gloom at a free Diwali party. Say ‘up yours!’ to consumerism at a celebration of punk culture. Or sip a free matcha at an Oatly pop-up. Whatever you pick, you won't have to shell out for tickets, so you can leave your bankcard dozing peacefully in its leathery bed. The weekend is waiting for you: here’s our pick of budget-friendly ways to banish the gloom. The 6 best free things to do in London this weekend  1. Go to a cockney knees-up at the Imperial War Museum’s weekend fest This weekend, Imperial War Museum is throwing an inspiring line-up of events celebrating the power of storytelling, to tie in with its current exhibition, Childhood in War. There are free family-friendly illustration and storytelling workshops, hands-on object handling sessions, and a Sunday singing session that’ll transport you straight back to the jollier bits of WWII, courtesy of musician Tom Carradine. He’ll lead two music hall style singalongs, complete with puppets, at 10.15am and 12 noon. Grab a wristband on arrival to be sure you get a spot, then bellow with th

We’ve all done it. You find a suspiciously affordable, nice-looking hotel in a city you’ve never visited, book a double room... then when you actually get there, you find yourself faced with creepy corridors, rumpled sheets, shouts from the bar below, and carpets with deeply troubling stains. You’ve learned the hard way that not all budget hotels are created equal. Luckily, Time Out is here to help you sort the glistening gems from all those The Shining-esque nightmares. Time Out's annual rankings of the UK's best hotels are based on our team of editors’ experiences at locations across the country. This year, the honour of best budget hotel went to a place in Manchester (and it's definitely not the historic hotel with many staircases and few hygiene standards that we’re too polite to name here). Leven, Manchester is a mid-sized hotel that you'll find just off the city’s Canal Street, a storied place for LGBTQ+ nightlife. It’s right by Manchester's Victoria station too. Still, despite the central location, our reviewer found it was equipped with enough creature comforts to offer a deeply relaxing stay.  Photograph: Heiko PriggeRoom at Leven Leven offers generously sized rooms with sofas and kitchens, meaning you can luxuriate in your space, rather than just dumping your bags and crashing out. There are also free-standing bathtubs, rainfall showers, and relaxing Scandi-inspired design flourishes that'll make you feel like you're in a far pricier hostelry. To top it off, there

After a week that's felt surprisingly summery, weather-wise, were about to take a headlong tumble into autumn this weekend. Still, don’t let the cooler weather put a dampner on your plans. London is serving up plenty of fun, free things to do with your days off, so there’s no excuse not to venture out into the crisp air and do something delightful. London isn’t exactly a cheap city, and sometimes it seems to knock a zero off your bank balance every time you leave the house. But if you know where to go, you can have a fantastic time without plunging into your overdraft. Celebrate apple day in the glorious outdoors, sip a warming cocktail at a free Disaronno party, go to a highbrow art festival, or enjoy some film-themed shenanigans. This is perfect weather for trekking across the city in search of fun and adventure: the hunt starts here. The best free things on in London this weekend, October 16-18 2026 1. Become an apple expert at an autumnal fest Right now, it's apple season, and the harvest is in full swing all across England’s farms. And there’s no need to miss out just because you’re a muck-fearing citydweller. Celebrate the apple in all its sweet, crisp glory at this one day fest at Greenwich’s Woodlands Farm. You can sample the kinds of elaborately coloured, flavoured and patterned apples that you just won't find in supermarkets, as well as trying different varieties of juice. There'll also be craft and food stalls to browse, as well as tractor and trailer rides through

In recent years, visiting Kew Gardens’ historic, 180-year-old Palm House has been an increasingly bittersweet experience. It’s a ravishingly beautiful space, with intricate white-painted ironwork and delicate glass panes housing palms and ferns that have thrived there for hundreds of years. But it’s become increasingly hard not to notice the red rust blooming through the paintwork and the leaves pressing up against the glass, ready for a newer, sturdier home. In autumn next year, the Palm House will finally close for a big overhaul – and now Kew Gardens is launching a new appeal to safeguard it for centuries to come.  Dame Judi Dench is the Palm House’s official ambassador, and she’s urging the public to donate to save the building. ‘Kew’s Palm House is one of Britain’s great wonders,’ the actress said. ‘It is an irreplaceable symbol of beauty, discovery, and hope. Please support the renovation of this iconic glasshouse, and you will be making an investment in both our heritage and our future.’ Donors can opt to give a specific sum or they can sponsor a pane of glass or a tropical plant species to get a digital gift certificate – a handy Christmas present for the fern fanatic on your list. The fundraiser is hoping to achieve £1 million in donations, which is just a fraction of the £66m it’ll cost to complete the massive revamp. The Palm House will be closed for three to four years for the works to take place. And it sounds like that work will be highly labour intensive. Since

Even the most hardcore spicy food fan might be unaware that last night (October 12) was the biggest, most glittering event in the UK’s curry calendar: the Asian Restaurant & Takeaway Awards. This annual ceremony celebrates the very best South Asian eateries up and down the country, hunting down exceptional chefs from the Isle of Wight to Bangor to Glasgow. This year, more than 1,250 restaurants were nominated, and more than 50 individual awards were given out. But we know that you, as a hungry Londoner, care most about the restaurants within this city's limits. There are four London categories in the awards, one for each corner of the capital. A fifth London spot also took home the crown for National Takeaway of the Year. So, here are the local spots to seek out for a truly excellent meal.  Every London winner at the Asian Restaurant & Takeaway Awards 2026 North London Restaurant of the Year: Taste of Nawab, Muswell Hill  This small family-run eatery serves a mix of Indian and Bengali dishes from its glass-fronted spot in Muswell Hill. It's built up a strong following since it opened in 1996, making this award is a triumphant celebration of three decades in business. Central & West London Restaurant of the Year: Tajmahal Indian Cuisine, King’s Cross  Just metres from Kings Cross station sits central London's official champion: Taj Mahal, which features technicolour murals of the landmark it's named after, emblazoned across its walls. With velvet booths and an intimate bar, th

Did you miss out on tickets to the British Museum’s Bayeux Tapestry show? Us too. But even though it’s pretty devastating not to get to see history’s rudest piece of embroidery (perhaps the infamous queues are being caused by viewers trying to count all 88 penises) there are nonetheless plenty of other ways to get cheap thrills during your spare time. London is teeming with fantastic free things to do this weekend, including a museum ‘late’ that brings the world of the Bayeux Tapestry to life – and you don’t need to shell out to get in. London Film Festival is also taking pity on the non-ticket-holding public by throwing free events we can all get involved in. Bloomsbury Festival is luring Londoners to the literary heart of the city with an intriguing array of artsy events. Blackhorse Beer Mile is hosting a Harvest knees-up where you can ring in autumn. In short, there’s absolutely no reason to stay indoors this weekend, even if you’re stony broke. These precious days are yours: here’s how to spend them. The best free things on in London this weekend, October 9-11 2026  1. Make some outlandish headgear at a Bayeux Tapestry Late The Bayeux Tapestry is a fantastic example of medieval craftsmanship that’s nonetheless got a lovable wonkiness to it; its bizarre creatures have a leftfield understanding of perspective, making it endearing to modern viewers. Crafts are more interesting when they’re imperfect. So get inspired to make your own fabulous, flawed, medieval-style textiles

Once, buying a pumpkin was a quick afterthought during your mid-October supermarket shop. Stick one in your trolley, carve a silly face on it, job done. But now, picking a pumpkin is a whole autumnal day out in itself, with tractor rides, marshmallow-toasting, costumed performers, spooky walks... if you’re not careful, you’ll be having so much fun you’ll forget to actually choose a giant orange squash to bring home. Up and down the UK, new attractions have sprung up to cater to the growing appetite for pumpkin-picking fun. But which ones offer gourd-geous autumnal days out, and which ones are a muddy disappointment? The AA doesn’t want anyone to make a wasted journey, so it’s assembled a list of the very best. To do so, it analysed patches all across the country, assessing whether they grew their pumpkins on site (many don’t), entry prices, Google reviews, and Instagrammability (for such are the times we live in).  The UK’s best pumpkin patches for Halloween 2026, according to the AA 1. Hatter’s Farm, Essex With over 100,000 pumpkins to choose from, all grown on the farm, this annual extravaganza is a pumpkin picker’s paradise. Here’s our full rundown of the entertainment on offer, which includes a bale mountain to climb, a pumpkin-firing cannon, a haunted house, and tons more ludicrous Halloween fun. Photograph: ShutterstockStack of pumpkins at a patch 2. Doddington Hall, Lincolnshire This Elizabethan hall is teeming with spooky historic atmosphere, making it the perfect b

The Bayeux Tapestry’s hotly anticipated arrival on English soil has left the British Museum with a bit of a battle on its hands. Okay, no one’s lopping off heads or firing arrows into eyeballs, just yet. But the hordes of ticketholders are still pretty tricky to manage as they all contend for a spot in front of one of the world’s sexiest bits of embroidery. Now, the museum has introduced some new rules in an attempt to restore order.  In a recent statement, a museum spokesperson has said that the demand has been ‘extraordinary’ and acknowledged that some visitors have experienced delays. Ticketholders are each allocated a 40-minute slot to view the tapestry, but some people have been spending longer than that, causing a backlog. A fortnight ago, a ban on taking photographs was introduced, due to fears that it was slowing the flow of visitors. An audio announcement also encouraged people to keep moving through the one-way exhibition. Still, issues remain for visitors to the blockbuster show. In a recent Reddit thread, one viewer complained that ‘constantly being chivvied along isn’t very fun’ and said that ‘people queuing for hours get rushed along, shouted at and told they can’t stop to read’. Other ticketholders described queuing for over two hours, or even being unexpectedly turned away due to fire alarms or corporate events. There were also complaints regarding a lack of signage, and curatorial explanation of the tapestry itself. All the changes the British Museum is makin

We’re just weeks away from the most enjoyable time of year for nosy parkers: Open House Festival (Sep 12-26), when buildings across the city throw open their doors and fling wide their gates so that ordinary people can have a good poke about. It’s an excellent chance to explore iconic London buildings like the BT Tower or Senate House. But step away from the landmarks and you’ll find even more intriguing places to explore. Homeowners across London are spending the summer heroically hoovering and battling clutter before they invite members of the public to admire their pristine interiors. From minimal architectural masterpieces to eco homes to historical treasures, here are the awe-inspiring private residences you shouldn’t miss this September.  The 6 best London private residences to visit during Open House 2026 1. Wood House, Harrow If you’ve got a thing for sloping-ceilinged attic rooms, you’ll fall in love with the complex angled surfaces at this geometrically-advanced self-build. It’s only just been completed by architects 538 Works, who wanted to show how state-of-the-art timber engineering and traditional craftsmanship can come together to create a low-energy home. Join a tour to learn more about why its creators decided to build a wooden house on an ordinary street of traditional brick semis, and to find out what it’s like to craft your own home from scratch. 2. Rogers House, Wimbledon Photograph: Iwan BaanRogers House in Wimbledon, by Richard and Su Rogers + Gumuch

A favourite complaint of visitors to London is how terribly, disgustingly expensive this city is. And sure, if you’re planning to pick up some bits in Harrods, have a quick bevvy on top of The Shard, then ride home to your Kensington hotel on a neon-lit rickshaw, you’re going to feel pretty short-changed. But we know if you’re savvy enough to read this article, you’re well aware that this city is bursting with free things to do – if you know where to look. London is full of lavishly funded cultural spaces that delight in bringing free art to the masses, community organisations who love to throw inclusive get-togethers, and big companies who know that giveaways are the way to land new customers. And Time Out is expert in tracking down the very best places to go to get your hands on the goods. This week, you can become a free cupcake tester, gorge on gratis tacos, join a community history festival, and admire intriguing art without shelling out for a ticket. In short, we’ve got loads to nourish your mind, body and soul – while ensuring your bank balance stays pretty well-fed, too. Read on for your wallet-friendly plans for this weekend. The best free things on in London this weekend, October 2-4 2026  1. See some stellar autumn art shows Collecting art is legendarily expensive. But seeing it? Thankfully affordable, because London’s commercial galleries provide a free shop window for anyone who wants to survey the works of the hottest new artists around. The centrepiece of this